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State Cops Issued 7,800 Tickets For Cell Phone Stops

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) -- Thousands of motorists have learned the hard way this year about the state of Illinois' new restrictions on cell phones while driving.

Illinois State Police said that nearly 7,800 motorists have been pulled over for violating two new laws regarding cell phones: a ban on using cell phones while driving in school and construction zones; and a ban on texting while driving.

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Through Dec. 16, the construction and school zone ban netted 4,236 citations and 2,629 warnings, police said. The texting ban has resulted in a total of 929 citations and warnings over the same time period.

Those figures don't count citations or warnings issued by county or municipal police agencies.

Illinois is among 30 states with laws trying to crack down on distractions caused by cell phones.

(TM and © Copyright 2010 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS Radio and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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